Fuel Assistance Limited This Year
by Amy Kolb Noyes

The combination of more people requesting fuel assistance and higher
home heating fuel prices means less help for everyone.
"I don't think that benefit is going to go very far," warned Sandy
Neely, of Central Vermont Community Action, in Morrisville. She noted
there have been more people applying for the fuel assistance benefit
through the state's Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program this year.
Therefore, said Neely, the total monetary benefit to each family will
decrease. With the rising cost of fuel, even the same benefit won't go
as far as last year.
Neely said this year's fuel assistance program has the same amount of
money to give out as last year, but more applicants will be sharing the
pot. Any Vermonter earning up to 125% of the poverty level ($1,964 per
month for a family of four) qualifies for fuel assistance. The number to
call to apply for fuel assistance is 800-479-6151.
CVCA administers another home heating fuel program called the Crisis
Fuel Program. Crisis Fuel provides cash for emergency situations, when
families or individuals are in danger of running out of heating fuel.
People earning up to 150% of the poverty level qualify for Crisis Fuel
assistance. That equates to $2,357 per month for a family of four.
Although CVCA administers the Crisis Fuel Program, Neely said applicants
to that program need not be existing CVCA clients.
Although the heating season is already upon us, Neely noted the Crisis
Fuel Program does not start until November 29, a date Neely called
"seriously late."
Neely encouraged people in need of the Crisis Fuel Program to call for
help before they are completely out of fuel.
"They don't have to be out to get help," she explained. Neely also
encouraged Crisis Fuel applicants to know their fuel company's delivery
date. She said the "special trip" fees charged by fuel delivery
companies are going up along with fuel prices. Having Crisis Fuel
delivered on the company's regular delivery schedule means more money
left in the fund to pay for fuel.
For more information on the Crisis Fuel Program call CVCA at 888-7993.